Fire Prevention Coffee Break Training November 2014
Agenda Introduction/ What do we want? - Fire Marshal Lund FAQ s and Alternative Design FPE Phelan Permit to Inspect, Maintain, & Service FP Appliances Fire Marshal Lund New Testing Requirements Questions and Answers Open Forum
What do we want? Many times I have heard this question: What do you want me to do? after a failed inspection or project meeting. It s not that simple or is it? The Des Moines Fire Prevention Bureau strives for consistent application of the fire code, so the appropriate response would be, It s not what I want, but rather it is what the code requires? If you ask me what I want, you probably won t like the answer because what I want would be well above what the code requires.
What do we want? Consistent application of the adopted fire code, city ordinances, and published policies is what we are striving for in Des Moines. To that end, we publish everything we can think of on our website (see our forms and documents page at: www.dmgov.org/departments/fire/pages/documents.aspx).
What do we want? If you have suggestions as to how we can present the information in a more meaningful manner or if there is more information that you desire, please don t hesitate to contact me at: jklund @dmgov.org or 515-283-4242.
FAQ s aka questions and problems we see and hear often.
Grandfathering and renovations aka what code do I have to meet? One of the most frequent questions we hear involves different versions of What needs to be done for a project in an existing building? The IFC requires that any new construction or change in occupancy in an existing building meet the requirements of the current building and fire codes. When the project includes a partial renovation to an existing building the portion of the building must be brought up to current code.
Elective/Non-Required Systems... The short answer is you can not just put notification or detection here or there. Per NFPA 72 any design for non-required detection or alarm systems must address the specific hazard or design goal. If you are designing an elective system your submittal should include a narrative description of the design goal and/or how the design achieves it.
Office vs. Conference Room Conference rooms require notification appliances offices do not. This is a fine line but if: the room has two doors, is meant for regular use by multiple people, is larger than would be considered a single office, or similar you should include notification appliances.
Not determining the use of rooms... If a drawing s label for a room is vague or blank you should determine the use of the room to determine notification appliance requirement. Include an explanation if you don t think the room needs a device.
Voice Systems... Not including locations of ADS s for voice system. Calculating the battery backup for 5 minutes instead of 15. Audibility is code required to meet quantifiable thresholds. Intelligibility is required, but quantifiable thresholds is not.
Frequently Omitted on FA submittals... Riser diagrams. Ceiling heights.
Pull Stations Pull stations are not required in fully sprinklered buildings. Pull stations must always be red.
Frequently Omitted on Sprinkler submittals... Complete flow test data including date and location. Area reduction calculation for quick response sprinklers. Standpipe calculations. CPVC expansion loops. Forgetting to call for rough-in inspections.
Backflow preventer sizing... The backflow preventer must be listed for the sprinkler flow. That means the flow must be within the LISTED flow not the tested flow.
Modification, Interpretation, or Alternative Design In sections 104.8 and 104.9 the International Fire Code allows for modifications to the code and alternative, non-prescriptive, means and methods to achieve the intent of the fire code. In addition to those an formal interpretation may be requested in cases of ambiguity about language or specific applicability of the code. A modification may be requested in cases where you do not believe the code is applicable, can be practically achieved, or allows for a prescriptive solution. The DMFD has one application for any of these cases. You are welcome to apply for any of these for a project. In order to use them successfully you need to ensure that you are applying for the correct one; interpretation, modification, or alternative design and that you are explaining and supporting the application thoroughly.
Modification Request a modification to the code when there is a practical difficulty meeting a code requirement. Cite the specific code section/requirement and enough documentation and detail about the project/situation to make an interpretation. These are most often encountered on projects in existing buildings.
Interpretation Request a code interpretation, citing the specific portion of the code in question and including enough documentation on the project to make an interpretation, when one of the following is ambiguous: The code language. The details of the requirement. The applicability to the specific scenario. The result will be an interpretation of the IFC or NFPA requirements with support including but not limited to official code commentary, precedent, and/or literature.
Alternative Design Request an alternative design when you are attempting to meet the intent of the code through a method that is not prescribed or through a n alternative building or fire protection system. The goal of this request should be to demonstrate an equivalent level is safety is being provided through an elective system, enhancement, or improvement to a fire protection or building system. The IFC covers alternative designs in Section 104.9 Alternative materials and means. 104.9.1 & 104.9.2 discuss the requirements for supporting the application for alternative means and methods. While they are not meant to be exclusive they call out research reports and testing as two methods for supporting the application for an alternative design. An alternative design submittal should cite the specific code section/requirement and enough documentation including support and detail about the project/situation to make an interpretation. It is required that an alternative design provide objective support materials, which do not include letters from the design professional stating an opinion without foundation. Without objective support materials alternative design requests will not be accepted regardless of how intuitive or obvious the alternative may seem.
An Example of a Successful Alternative Design Recently the DMFD Fire Prevention Bureau worked through a multifaceted project with a designer. This project began with a discussion of a code requirement that included amongst other things an ambiguously defined term. The design team requested an interpretation of the requirement and in support they provided journal articles, and opinions from third party experts involved in the code process. Finally, their preferred design methodology was not explicitly allowed by the code or the product listing. So they proposed an alternative design. In support of their alternative design they provided CAD renderings, calculations, and finally ad-hoc testing. The worked with the DMFD fire prevention bureau and designed a project specific mock-up including data collected, and technically sound performance criteria to support their preferred design. They then conducted the testing over a reasonable range and compared two potential designs. Their diligence with this project proved that their design provided a reasonable equivalent to the code requirement and provided their client with their preferred design.
Permit to Inspect, Maintain, & Service FP Appliances Ch 46-5 of the City of Des Moines Municipal Code requires a permit to inspect and maintain fire appliances. In the past the DMFD has enforced this for fire alarm, hood suppression, and fire extinguishers. We are seeing inadequate maintenance records and testing for water based FP systems, so we are now enforcing this ordinance on water based FP contractors.
Testing Process Fire Extinguishers Based on 2010 edition of NFPA 10 and the 2012 edition of the IFC Fire Alarm Based on 2010 edition of NFPA 72 and the 2012 edition of the IFC Kitchen Hood Suppression Based on 2009 edition of NFPA 17A and the 2012 edition of the IFC Water Based Fire Protection Systems Based on 2011 edition of NFPA 25 and the 2012 edition of the IFC
Test Dates and Times Wednesday, December 3 rd, 2014 at 8 AM and 3 PM Wednesday, December 10 th, 2014 at 8 AM and 3 PM Friday, December 12 th, 2014 at 8 AM and 2 PM Tuesday, December 16 th, 2014 at 9 AM and 3 PM Thursday, December 18 th, 2014 at 9 AM and 3 PM *All testing will occur at 2715 Dean Avenue in the main classroom. To register for a test date, please call 283-4240 or email jklund@dmgov.org. For registration purposes please show up at least 10 minutes before the test is scheduled to begin. The fee for the permit to inspect and maintain fire appliances is $45 and covers all testing for all of the different specialties (fire alarm, water-based, etc.), this fee is due upon permit issuance.
Questions and Discussion What are your FAQ s? What else do we need to talk (more) about?